Tang Sanzang is a Chinese Buddhist monk, He is actually a reincarnation of Golden Cicada, a disciple of the Buddha. He is sent on a mission to fetch a set of Buddhist scriptures back to China for the purpose of spreading Buddhism in his native land. Tang Sanzang is not a fighter whatsoever, and had originally hired two bodyguards, who were both killed in their first encounter with demons. Guanyin helps Sanzang find three powerful beings to provide him aid, and protection. Wukong, Bajie and Wujing are recruited, one by one. They also become Sanzang's disciples and receive enlightenment and redemption for past misdeeds. Because Sanzang is a reincarnation of a holy being, he is a constant target of demons, who want to eat his flesh, because supposedly one can attain immortality from it.